On Tuesday, eleven young entrepreneurs from Mostar and Čapljina signed contracts on financing their business ideas.
Incentives of around 8,000 BAM per project were received within the three-year YourJob program implemented by Caritas Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Within the business incubator and financial support for starting a business project, in March 2021 20 young people participated in a boot camp in Mostar, where they learned how to turn their business idea into a business plan. After the boot camp, all participants applied for financial support. The best ideas were presented to the expert committee at the online pitch presentation and the 11 best ones were selected.
Funds were approved for business ideas for opening a fitness center, beauty salon, nanny agency, hosting agency, digital and graphic design agency, production studio, restoration and service of historic vehicles, production of buckwheat and spelled pillows, production of hazelnut spreads .
Project manager Miroslav Valenta said that Caritas strives to provide employment opportunities in BiH through employment counseling centers in Mostar, Čapljina and Banja Luka.
The YourJob project provides young people with various tools through which they can ensure their return to the labor market, and one of these tools is incentives for self-employment through the provision of financial support for starting their own businesses, Valenta added.
He pointed out that this project was launched by Caritas in the region in cooperation with the Austrian Development Agency to help young people who want to stay in BiH.
Master of Sports Elmir Burdelić, one of the beneficiaries of the project, considered leaving Bosnia and Herzegovina, but after receiving the incentive and opportunity to realize his business idea, he decided to stay.
“My business idea is an athletic club in Mostar and a fitness center that would be different from those that already exist here. It is about introducing new training concept “les mills”, which is used in America, and corrective gymnastics, as well as the first relaxation room in this area,” explained Burdelić.
Speaking about starting a business in BiH, he said that the administration is creating many problems and that he has encountered a lot of illogical parts of the process.
Ana Ljubić, who makes pillows from buckwheat husks and spelled, also spoke about the difficulties in starting a business.
“My business has been active for a year. It is a pulvinaris brand, making ecological pillows for sleeping and sitting. Now, I will register my business. I have a team of three people and I hope for better business after the registration“, said Ljubić.
